Ontario launches $7.1M Residential School Community Engagement Fund

The Ontario government has announced a new $7.1 million fund for communities and organizations to support survivors and their families impacted by the ongoing burial investigations at former Residential schools.

Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford says the The Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF) will directly fund “Indigenous-led and survivor-centered programs and services that are flexible and respond to the needs of survivors and their families.”

Our government is providing $7.1M for the new Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF) to support research, public education, mental health and addictions supports, and commemoration initiatives.

Apply by Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. EDT: https://t.co/9OnGQnP3BU pic.twitter.com/kxuK9edAzE

— Greg Rickford (@GregRickford) July 31, 2023

The fund is available to Indigenous groups pursuing a variety of activities, including community engagement, mental health and addictions support, research activities, public education and awareness, staffing supports and commemoration initiatives.

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Applications for the fund open through to September 5 at 4 p.m. and can be accessed on the Transfer Payment Ontario website.

Those applicants who are eligible may receive upwards of $150 thousand for the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year, with funding expected to begin rolling out this fall.

The province says it continues to work with Indigenous partners in advancing meaningful reconciliation and exploring new ways to strengthen collective awareness and understanding of the impact of these institutions for all citizens.

Anyone interested in applying for the fund can visit the Ontario government website for further information.

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